Here is what we did in class this week:

• We learned our "Do Sol Fa Sol" song on the piano after reviewing it with our hand signs. The fingerings are a little tricky, so watch out for those!
  • You can hear the song on my website here!

• We learned what the middle ledger lines are this week. Your child can practice the ledger lines on my website or Quizlet.com if they are having a hard time being motivated to use the physical flashcards. Have them write their times on the assignment sheet! The goal is to be able to know these notes by sight!

 

• We reviewed the order of sharps and practiced drawing flats
  • The middle half-heart shape space of the flat sign needs to be centered over the line or space where the flat is meant to be. Otherwise we can't tell which note we're trying to make flat!

• We learned to play a song to help us remember what the ledger lines and spaces are. You can listen to the tune here as you follow along on page 28 in the Songbook. (It's okay to sing an octave lower than the notes!)

• We are adding melody to our chord progression (p.33 of the songbook)!
  • Chord tones are the notes that are being played in the chord
    • these should be added to the downbeat when the chords are being played
  • Passing tones are the notes between the chords
    • these notes can be any notes that are in the scale for the key the song is in.
    • these notes add interest to the song

• The kids should break down their primary song by practicing the second line only of their song this week.
  • Your child should already be able to play the 1st line of the song memorized without making mistakes.
  • Here is a web page I made with all the primary songs and the MP3s so you know what they sound like.
  • Your child is welcome to learn any of the other primary songs ONLY AFTER they have learned their own song.

This week your child will do the red and purple highlighted assignments at home! Parents need to initial completed assignments this week in order for the kids to get their reward in class!

I have added additional flashcards to my Quizlet collection. You can access those on my website, or through Quizlet.com. I have also added a few sets to the "Repertoire" section of the Student Portal. Please let me know if you are using these resources and I will continue adding to it! Also let me know if you can't get them to work! (Sometimes things work fine for me as the teacher, but not so well for the students and I have no way of knowing if nobody tells me they aren't working!)

Don't forget to please help your child pass off their songs and scales to earn pins! You just need to send me a video of them playing. The scales can be played with or without the back track, but they need to be perfect at least one time with both hands.

I'm getting a lot more pass-off lately! Keep it up!